Apparatus for building tires



May-29,19% 1,671,941

' f' W. C. STEVENS APPARATUSl FOR BUILDING "TIRES Filed Nov, 1g. `1922'av sheets-sheet 1 Mayas, 192sl lw. c. STEVENS APPARATUS ro'n'urmxuannss 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 med Nov. 1s. 1932 May 29, 1928 1,671,941

F W. C.' STEVENS Arm'rus Fox BUILDING 'nnss s sheets-sheet s med Nov.15.719212 .May 29, 19:28.` 1,671,941

W. C. STEVENS APPARATUS FOR BUILDING TIRES "Filed Nov. 13. 1922 9Sheets-Sheet y5 3 u veu-1 1h31 y ,4 1 7 5 ffm LLlzam ,Slwem May 29,.192s.

. 1,671,941 w. c. STEVENS y l I v APPARATUS I FOR BUILDING TIRES FiledNov.15. 1922 9 snts-sheet e' .I v o o v i3. O o

A6, u o .-40 D `47 .o v l 42 D O 39. A3 D @Hm nui May4 29, l92&

w. c. STEVENS APPARATUS FOR BUILDING THES 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Nw. 1s.1922 Sinnen [oz:

ZI/u'cun 6626126725 :um: nu,

My 29,1928., v 1,671,941

w. c. STEVENS I'APPARATUS FOR BUILDING TIRES Filed Nov.1s.1s22@sums-sheet e Filed Nov. 13.' 1922 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 untreu STATES PATENTorrlca.`

'WLLH C. STEVENS, 0F AKRON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE FIRESTONE TIRE ANDBUB- f BER COMFANfY, 0F AKRON, OHIO, A CORPORATION 0F OHIO.

Primeros Foa BUILDING Trans.

invention relates, broadly, to im- ;{irovements in apparatus forbuilding pneumatic tires, land more specifically to apparatus for use inassembling the component parte or a tire and building them up in theiorm o a tiet band. y

This method of buildinrr tires7 generally speaking, comprises'asscmvlingthe various :ia'bric iayers of the tire carcass in the formy of atransversely flat band, positioning the bead cores, the tread element,the sidewalls, andthe finishing; strips upon the band, and then formingthe band into the cross-sectional shape of a tire. The last mentionedoperation is performed in various ways and need not, it is believed, beentered into herein. Pneumatic tires may be built' by the methodoutlined at a relatively low cost if the operations incident to theassembly of rolls or other Vsources of supply and feed them directly toan expansible drum, and to incorporate in such apparatus, means forcentering and aligning the various plies rclative to each other as theyare' fed to the drum.

Another purpose of my invention is to ther and.equally importantpurposes its variouscomponents are performed accuf rat-ely and rapidlyand Without 'resorting to individual apparatus iny performing ditferentoperations and thus necessitating transtcrring the carcass from oneplace to another and through the.hands of numerous operatives. v

The purpose of my invention,v generally speaking, is to expedite theconstruction of pneumatic tires thatare built in the form of tiet bandsand to provide a practical apparatus adapted or use in accomplishingthis purpose. l

To this end my invention aims to provide apparatus by means of which allthe elements of a tire easing may be assembled accurately in the form ofa flat band without recourse to unnecessary operations, such astransportin the casing to different apparates at di erent stagesof itsconstruction.

i'y invention is also: directed toward providiuT in conjunction with theabove, an

improved stitcher mechanism for stitching.;v

the various plies ot the casing together in the 'form of. a itat bandand for performing a like operation upon the lrcarhsidewalis yandfinishing strips. f

frfnother object of my invention, is to prornechanism tor stitching thebead corea, upon the flat band and also stitching the outer fabriclayers around the bead cores. Still another purpose of invention is to'provide an apparatus of the character ,above indicatedthat is adapted totake plies of tire .fabricof diterent widths fromstock comprehended bymy invention are the pro vision of novel means for centering the treadportion of the casing relative to the fabric layers, and accuratelypositioningr the sidewalls and chate strips and the' head.

core so as to always secure uniform construction in each tire.v

lVith thcscand stil-1 other objects in view, as will presently appear,the invention resides inthe aggroupment vand combinations of elementsset forth, in their preferred construction and relation, in thefollowing description, andparticularly pointed out in the claims'appended hereto.

In the drawings that accompany and form a part of this specification,the preferred embodiment of my apparatus has been illustrated.

F igure i is a front elevational View of the apparatus;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view partly broken away;

Figure 3 is a sido elevational viciv of the conveyorportion of myapparatus;

, Figure 4 is a top plan View of a portion of the conveyor mechanism, aguide member, and a drum, forming a part of my apparatus; e

Figure 5 is a bottom plan view showing the guide memberon an enlargedscale;-

Figure ,(3I is a 'front edge/view of the guide member; f

Figure 7 ,is a fragmentaryy front edge vieu1 of the' tguide membershowing'the inoperative position of a combined fabric and beadspacingelemcnt forming apart of the guide;

Figure 8 is a similar View showing the operative position of thecombined fabric and bead spacing element; i

' Figure 9 is a front elevational view illustrating a bead stitchingmechanism Yforming ya part of my apparatus;

Figure is a rear elevational view, partly in section, of the beadstitching mechanism drawn on an enlarged scale;

Figure 11 is a transverse. sectional view on the line 11-11 of Figure10;

Figure 12 is a rear elevational view ot an expansible drum forming apart of my apparatus;

Figure 13 is a transverse sectional view on the line 13-13 ot' Figure12;

Figure 14 is a fragmentary top plan view 1 on further enlarged scale,illustrating the manner in which the initial plies o t a tire casing andthe bead cores are run from the conveyor onto the drum;

Figure 15 is a similar view illustrating the manner in which otherplies'are run onto the drum over the )cad cores;

Figure 15a is a diagrammatic vievv illustrating a preferred method oit'joining the ends oi the bead cores;

Figure 16 is a iront elevational View on an enlarged scale, illustratinga ply stitching mechanism embodied in my apparatus;

' Figure17 a rear elevational view of the stitcher mechai'iism shown inFigure 16;

Figure 13 is a transverse sectional vievv on the line 18-18 of Figure17;

Figure 19 is a fragmentary top plan View illustrating the application ofay tread and sidewall guide forming a part of myapparatus;

Figure 20 is a central transverse sectional view ot' the 'tread andsidewall guide, drawn on an enlarged scale with rcterenee to the showingof Figure 19;

Figure 21 is a top plan view of thetread and sidewall guide;

Figure 22 isa front elevational vievv of the tread and side Wall guide;and

Figure 23 is a detail View of a modified form-ot stitcher for the beadstitching mechanism'.

Referring to the drawings by.` characters of reference, the numeral 1designates abasemember upon which the various elements oi. my apparatusare supported in operative relation. At the front end ofl the base apair et vertical relatively spaced standards 2 are provided, in which ahorizontal driving sha tt El is journaled, as shown in Figure 1. Theouter end of the shaft 3 carries a gear wheel. L1 that meshes with asimilar gear 5 lixed upon a short shaft 6. The shaft 6 is also journaledin one of the standards 2 and carries a beveled gear 7 in mesh with asimilar gear 8. vThe gear 8 is fixed upon the driven shaft ot a speedreducing device 9. Any suitable power medium, such as the motor 10, maybe utilized for driving the speed reducing device )9. The driving shaft3 carries two clutch members 11 and 12 respectively, which may be of anysuitable con struction. In the present form of my invention, a standardform of clutch has 'been illustrated, generally, comprising, in eachinstance, a driving membersplined upon the shaft 3 for movementlongitudinally thereof and a driven member freely rotatable upon theshaft. In the form of clutch shown, the elements thereof are selfreleasing. The driving member 13 of the clutch element 11 is actuated toclutch the driven member 14 by a suitable arrangement of pedals 15 and16 which actuate a pivoted yoke member 17 that engages the member-13.These pedals are arrangedfor operation respectively from the front andthe side of the machine for the convenience of the operator. A similararrangement of pedals 18 and 19 serve to actuate the driving member 2Oof the clutch- 12 relative to driven member 21 thereof.' Pedals 18 and19 are connected in any suitable manner to a second yoke member 22 thatengages the member 20 of the clutch 12. The 'driven member. of clutch 11carries a gear Wheel 23 that meshes with a. larger gear wheel 24 fastupon a shaft 25. The shaft 25 is journaled above'the shaft 3 in thestandards 2. Above the shaft 25 a third shaft 26 is journaled in thestandards 2. Shaft 26 carries a pair of freely rotatably opposed clutchelements 27 and 28 respectively, mounted thereon in spaced relation(4The element 27. is driven in one direction nov from the shaft 25 by a sroc et and chain A connection 29, Whereas `t e element 28 is driven in areverse direction by a sprocket and chain connection 30 to a stud shaft31. Shaft 31 carries a gear Wheel 32 fast thereon, which is driven by'-an idler gear 33. The idler gear 33 is mounted for free rotation uponthe vshaft 25 and meshes with a gear Wheel 34 that is carried by the'driven member 21 of the clutch 12. A clutch sleeve 35` is splined uponthe shaft 26 for movement lon'- gitudinally thereof between the clutchele-y ments 27 and 28. The sleeve 35 is adapted to clutch either element27 or 28 and may be moved into engagement with either Said elements bymeans ofl a lever 36 and swinging yoke 37, the latter engaging saidsleeve as shown in Figure 1.

The foregoing constitues a forward and reverse driving mechanism for theshaft 26. The inner end of sha-ft 26 projects beyond one Yof hestandards 2 and supports a flat surface drum 37 for rotation therewith.The dnum 37 comprises a spi-'ler 38 having a hollow hub portion 39adapted to be affixed upon the aforesaid projectil'igend of the shaft26. A plurality of tubular arms 40 I extend radially from xthe hub 38,each' of which contains a spoke member 41. The inner end of each spokeis provided with a threaded bore which receives a threaded. ra.- dialshaft/12. Each shaft 42 is journaled in the hollow hub 38and carries atits inner end a beveled gear-43. The beveled gears 43 are all vin meshwith a master gear 4l carried uponone end of a shaft 45 that is alsojournaled in the hub portion 38. The other end of the shaft 45 isprovided with a hand wheel 46 whereby the 1naster 1 ear 44 may berotated to rotate the shafts 4L in unison and project or .withdrawthespdltes 4lout of or in'to the arnis d0. Ihe'dpjini 37 is divided intosegments 46 having -jxxrallel transverse edge'sl Une segment 46.isfcarried upon the outer end of each spoke ltif-whereby 4when thespokes 4i are projectedor withdrawn relative tothe arms 40, the diameterof the drum 37 is,increased or diminished. One edge of each segment 46,carries a plate 47 flush with thesurface of the segment 'and projectingbeyond the edge thereof into a Seat 48 in the edge of the adjacentsegment,

whereby 'the edges of contiguous segmentsV are bridged in such mannerthat when the spokesftl are projected from the arms'flO the gaps betweenthe segments are. closed.

Rows of sharp studs/19 are provided in the i drurn37 vfor a purposepresently apparent.

' able manner.

.The drum 37 is designed to receive the component parts of a tire easingwhich are stitched thereon into a composite structure in the forni of aflat annular band. Subsequently the band may be formed 4into thecross-sectional contour of a tire 1n any suit propose to convey thevarions parts or a tire onto the drum either lin .strip form e r fromvarious stock rollsas desired, and toperform the various stltchingvoperations necessary all through the medium of the present apparatusand without removing vthe'iand from the drum iny any of the stagesoil-its construction. In accomplishing the foregoing, I provide aconveyor mechanism 50 in the rearof the drum 37.

The conveyor mechanism comprisesa pair of hollow standards 5l and 52,spaced from each other, and arising 'from the'base 1, in the plane ofthedrum 37. The ,standard 51 carries an elongated substantially.:horizontaltable '54 disposed with its fronteind overhanging the drum 37.. At therear' end of the table suitable standardstnot shown) may, if desired, bearranged to support stock rolls of the various elements of thetire. Thetable 54 comprises parallel side bars 55 which are bolted intermediatetheir length to a depending transversely extending bracket 56. Thebracket 56 is pivoted in a yoke 57 tc rock about a horizontal axiswhereby the forward end of the table may be depressed or raised relativeto thesurface of the drum 37 for a purpose presently apparent. The yoke57 is mounted in the upper end of the standard 5l. Atv itsforward endthe table is pivotally connected to a vertical plunger rod 58 that isAmounted to slide withfin the hollow Standard 52. The plunger rod 58 isnorend is connected to a pullfi'od 66 and toot pedal 61. The foot pedal6l is designed to take under a detent lug 62, on the standard 52, whenit is depressed whereby the forward endof the table 54 may be locld inlowered position. A roller 63 is'journaled between the forward endsiofthe side bars 55,in suit able bearings 64, between a pair of rollers 65that are larger in diameter than said roller 63 and are adapted toengage the surface of the druml 37, when the forward end of the table lis locked y in lowered position. By means of the compression spring andthe parts above described as associated there# with, the rollers 65 areheld in yielding :sulv

sition against the surface'of the drum 257 as will be apparent. table asecond roller 66 is journaled betweeny the side bars of the table 54 inbracket 67 which are adjustable lengthwise of the bars 55. An lendlessconveyor belt 68 is trained around the rollers 63 and 66 with its upperrun in engagement with the. table 54; whereby it always resents anunyielding flat surface in conveying material thereover. The conveyorbelt is driven through engagement of the rollers with the drum 37 `andinthe following manner. A short shaft;68 projects from one of the bearings64 in the rear of the roller 63. Shaft 68 carries a sprocket'v wheel 69and a gear wheel 70 which are fixed against lrelative movement. Thesprocket wheel' 69 is connected by a chain 7l to a sirnilar wheel 72fast upon the journal of the rollers 65. A pendant arm 7 3 is mounted atits upper end to swing about the shaft 69. At its lower end the arm 7.3carries a gear wheel 74'ih mesh with the wheel 70 and a sprocket wheel75 fixed to the gear wheel 7d. A chain 76 connects the sprocket wheel 75 with a similar wheel 75 that is fixed upon the journal of the roller66. Aturn buckle 77 connects the intermediate portion of the arm 73 withthe bracket 56 wherebv the arm At, the" rear end of the may be adjustedabout the shaft 69 to take y up slack in the chain 76.

Parallel guide rails 78 are mounted u on the side bars 55 of the table54 to project over theedges of the conveyor 68. These rails are designedto guide different Widths 'ot' fabric onto the drum 37and center them'of notched-slots 7 9 and bolts 80, the latter taking into the side bars55. The notches in f the slots 7 9 are spaced according to the differentwidths of fabric required in building a certain size of carcass. The'drawings show two initial plies 801 and 81, of the saine width, asillustrative of the manner ,in which one type of tire is constructed,the bead cores 552 being positioned upon these plies. and covered by twowider plies Fil. iience tvvo notches are illustrated inthe slots il).Obviously, however, any number ot notches may be provided in accordancewith the. number ot dill'ercnt widths of 'fabric desired. 'l`he rails To.serve to keep the Jfabric in a flat and'unwrinhlcd condition during itspassage lo the drinn $57.

A combined edge guide l'or the'l'abric and bead core guide X4; is tosupport the slack ot 'the strips as they leave the. conveyor until theyare attached to the drum and to keep them in alignn'ient and in centeredposition relative to said drum. Another and equally` imiortant purpose,however. is to set the bead strips in proper' position relative to theedges of the fabric strips and in this connection I believe 't am thefirst to provide bead setting guides adjacent the edges of a rotatabledrum in apparatus of this character. The guide 84 coi'i'iprises parallelsupporting'arms 85 projecting forwardly from the table .34, each armbeing pivoted at.

. not in use.

its rear end upon one ot' the side bars 55 to be supported insubstantially horizontal position thereon near one edge of the drum 37.Arms may be thereby' swung into a substantially vertical position tomovethe parts carried thereby, presently described, away from the drum whensuch parts are The rear end of each arm is constructed to forni a stopto limit its swinging movement, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, and a setscrew 87 is provided intermediate each arm to Contact. the side bar andadjust the position of the parts carried upon the arms relative to thesurface ot' the drum 37, The forward ends of the arms are connected bya-bar 88 disposed in parallelism with the roller GB and adapted toextend across the drum 37. Upon the bar 88 two plates 89 are mounted toslide longitudinally. Set screws are prr'ivided to clamp theplates inany desired position upon the bar 88, and an abutment 90 is affixedcentrally of the bar 88 to limit the movement of the plates toward eeachother.v Each plate carries near'its outer end and against one edge otthe drum Si'. an arm 91 that. is hinged at its rear end to the plate tobe parallel with the edges o't the fabric strip and to be raise-fl orlowered relative to said plate. l'pon the forward end ol each arm 91. afinger 92 is atlixed to project over the edge of the fabric strip. Thefingers 92 on the lowered position ot the arms 91 are seated in openings03 in the t'orvvard edge ot the plate and are undercut to provide anotch 91 and an overhanging lip 95. the latter projecting over theplates SS) 'when the ingers are in seated position. to provide guidesbetween which the narrower widths of vfabric run as they from theconveyor. "When it is ldesired to run wider widths of :fabric onto thedrum, the arms ill are swung upwardly on their pivots to bring thenotches 94 above the surface of the plates 8i) and the edges of thewider strips are guided by said notches. 'l`he plates 89 may, obviously,be adjusted to run dii'lcrent widths ot abrio onto the drum fordifferent sizes of tires and inA accordance with the adjustinent of therails 78. Also the ends ot the fingers may be constructed to provide torreceiving more than two ditl'crent widths of fabric if dcsrcd. Eachtngerllz carries a bead guide 9G arranged to project over the edge o'fthe strip and comprising a hooked inner end constructed to receive abead strip and position it relative to the edge of the 'fabric strip.Bead guides 96 are secured by screws 97 to the upper face of the fingers92 and are slotted, as shown at 98,I for adjustment across the edges otthe fabric to provide for setting the bead strips at different distancesfrom the edges ot the fabric. The beads are preferably ted from theconveyor in the torni of strips 82 having notched ends 100 designed tooverlap and interlock in the manner shown in Figure 15a. A patch 1011positioned beneath the overlapping ent s ot' each bead 99 and foldedover said ends. My present bead guide is particularly adapt,- ed for'setting such lieadslrelative` to fabric plies superposed in band formupon a flat surfaced drum. although it may be othern wise used, as, forinstance, in feeding strips from :t stock roll at the rear of theconveyor.

Upon one of the standards 2, a rectangular frame 102 is mounted to swingagainst the :forward face ot the drum 37. Within the frame 102, a secondrectangular frame- 103 is pivoted intermediate its length to swing abouta vertical A horizontal shaft 104 is secured against rotation in theframe 103 and is provided intermediate its length with an adjustablecollar 105. Upon one side of the collar, the shaft is provided withright hand screw threads 100, whereas the other half of saidshaft isprovided with lett hand threads 107, the threads in each instance beingformed preferably on the rear face only of the shaft. Shaft 104; carriestwo stitcher disci 107, having, respectively, internally threaded hubportions 108. The inside diameter of each hub portion is greater thanthe diameter of the shaft 10ft- Whereby the stitichers are free to bemoved along the shaft. lVhen the trame 102 is swung against the 'drum37, the stitcliers are positioned against the collar 10.7' which isarranged t0 approximate the median line of the drum and consequently thefabric thereon. The 'trame 102 is provided withv a handle 109, wherebythe stitchers may be pressed against the fabric whereupon the 167 isequalized upon each side of the median line or the. band. A. secondstitcher n'neohanisin 110 is mounted upon one'of the standarde 2l toswing against. the upper face of the drum. Stitcher'mechanismlscomgprises e shaft or handle 11.1 pivoted to swung in a horizontal positionacross the 'top ot the drum. ntermedateits length,

shaft 111 carries a bracket 112. A shaft 113 extends .through thebracket 112 at a/right angle to the handle 111. A rocker arm 114 ispivoted intermediate its len th upon the shaft 113, the `arm being of sightly lesser length than the space between the bead cores 82. Each endof the arm carries an approximaiy dat faced roller 115 which, when themechanism isin operative position, is designed to stitch the fabric uponthe drum adjacent the inside of the beads. A second rocker arm 116ispivoted intermediate its length upon the other end of the shaft 113,

said arm being of eater length than the erm 111i. Each en a stitcherwheel 117 having a concave eriphery adapted to engage the toe and t ebase of thebeed, that ie to say, its up r face, considering its positionupon the at band. Stitehers 117 are each mounted uon the 'ends of theerin 116 to swing free' jf'about a vertical stud 117', whereby they arefree to adjust themselves accordingly should the beads 8.2 not be laidin exact alignment and thus prevent pinching of said beads. Rocker arm116 comprises spaced side bars 118 between which a pair of oppositelydis- I posed. inclined mouvntings 11'9 are arranged to projectdownwardly toward the toes of the beads 95 when the mechanism is inoperative position, and also toward the stitchers 117.. Each mounting119 comprises a sleeve 12()- .loosely mounted atits inner end upon theshaft 113. Mountings 120 are held against relative movement by a Setscrew 121. Each sleeve 120 earries'in its free -end the shank 122 of astitcher carrier 123, the

Shanks being adjustable in their respective.

sleeves by means of set screws 124 W ierehy the carriers may be-m0vedtoward or away from the stitchers 117.v lStitchers 125 and 126 aremounted respectively in the carriers 123 in an inclined position andarev designed to engage the toe of the bead. Each stitcher 125 and 126has a lrrooved periphery 127 for receiving the toe o? the bead whereby,in conjunction with the stitchers 117, the beads are.

completely surrounded and stitched into llgrstitch thev fabric of thearm 116 carries uniform shape'when the drum 37 is rotated. If desired,stitchers 117 may be. spring ressed against the beads 82 as shown inigure 23. Y After the fabric plies and theybead strips have beenproperly assembled and stitched,

I utilize a tread and sidewall'guide 128` The guide`128 comprises aplate 129 adapted to be positioned centrally ofthe guide 8e and providedwith a hooked rear ed e 13) constructed to take over the rear ge of saidguide 84. The plate is (provided. with vertical side llanges 131l etherebetweena tread strip 132 from the con- .Yeyor belt 68. Each flan e131 carries, at

signed to receive its edge, a sidewal guide 133 com- Y pricing a lplate134 that'projcets laterally Vfrom the platet129.- *The `side ed es`ofthe plates v134 are dso provided witi vertical flanges 135 ldesignedtoreceive a combined sidewall strip anda chalng' stri 137 therebetweenfrom the cdnveyonvbe t 68. Preferabl the'sdewally uides are inclineddownwar y towardthe rum 37and downu `wardly from the plate 129, andtheir inner side edgesproject over the plate 129 to conline the edges ofthe tread stripbetween the flanges 131, This form of guide 128 pro-.vides for `feeding the sidewalls upon the drum in position to overlathe edges of the tread strip, as shown in drawings. l

The. operation 4ot my inventioxnit is lie-.- lieved, will be understoodwithout further description. f

The foregoing constitutes a detailed de scription of .a preferredembodiment "of my invention, but it is'to beunderstood that `changes andmodifications may be resorted to in the practice of the inventionwithout departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of Ithe appendedclaims'.

What I claim is:

' 1. Apparatus for Abuilding tires' in the form of a flatbandcomprising, a rotatable drum, a conveyor mechanism operable throughrotation of the drum to feed .the

component elements of the tire onto the" igure 19 of the w operablethrough rotation' of the drum to stitch from the median line of the drumto ward both edges thereof, and means for ro.- tating the drum. I

2. Apparatus `for build form of aflat band comprising, a rotatable drum,a conveyor mechanism' operable vthrough engagement'with the drum to feedmaterial thereon, a combined fabric and bead guide between the conveyorand the.

drum adapted for adjustment forbuilding different sizes of tires,'andmedna for rotating the drum. L v f 3. Apparatus for buildingl tires inthe 12o, ing tires in the ent sizes of tires, and

form of a fiat band comprising, a4 rotatable drum, a conveyor mechanismoperable through engagement .with the drum to feed material thereon, acombined fabric and bead guide mounted upon the conveyor adapted foradjustment for building diti'era stitcher mechanism operable'throughrotation of the drum to automatically stitch from the median line of thetire toward both edges thereof.

4. Apparatus for building tires in the form of a flat band comprising, arotatable drum, a conveyor mechanism for feeding the elements of thetire onto the drum, a 'combined fabric and bead guide upon the con veyorfor positioning the fabric plies and the bead elements relative to eachother, and a removable tread and sidewall guide upon. said first guide.

5. Apparatus for building tires in the form of a flat band comprising, arotatable drum, a `conveyor mechanism for feeding the elements of a tireonto the drum, a combined fabric and bead guide upon the conveyormounted to swing toward or away from the drum, removable means upon theguide for centering the tread and sideivall elements relative to thefabric and bead elements, and stitcher mechanism operable throughrotation of the drum to stitch from 'the median line of the drum towardboth edges thereof.

6. Apparatus of the character described comprising, in combination,y arotatable eX- pansible drum, a conveyor mechanism operable throughengagement with said drum to feed the elements of the tire onto thedrum, means between the drum and the conveyor adapted to guide andspacethe elements relative to each other as they are fed onto the drum,stitcher mechanism operable through rotation of the drum tosimultaneously stitch both beads, and means for rotating the drumincluding a. reversing mechamsm.

7. In a device of the character described, in combination. a rotatableexpansible drum, a conveyor mechanism adjustable in a vertical planeinto and out of driving engagen ment with said drum, a swinging frameupon the conveyor comprising pivoted edge guides for the fabric, and abead guide upon each said edge guides.

8. In a device ofthe character described` in combination, a rotatabledrum for receiving the elements of a tire, and a notched fabric guideadjacent each edge of the drum mounted for adjustment across the face ofthe drum said fabric guide having ahead guide mounted thereon.

9. Ina device of the character described,

in combination. a rotatable drum, a conveyor mechanism adjustable in avertical plane into and out of driving engagement with '-:aid drum,adjustable guide bars upon the conveyor mechanism for receiving fabricplies therebetween, a swinging frame upon the conveyor' comprisingpi'voted edge guides for the fabric, and a bead guide on each said edgeguides.

lt). ln apparatus of the class described, in combination`r a rotatabledrum, u support in the plane of tbe drum, a frame pivoted upon thesupport to rock about a horizontal axis one end of the Atrameovcrhanging the drum, and a conveyor i'nechanism carried by the frameincluding a flanged roller adapted to engage the drum.y

ll. Apparatus for building tires inthe .'l'oriu ol' a flat. baudcomprising a rotatable drum` a .support for holding a strip ot tirebuilding material iu alignment with the upper periphery of the drum.means adjustable over the support 'for guiding the strip of tirebuilding material. centrally onto the drum, said means comprising spacedguide rails `movableA toward and from cach other over the support, andbead strip guides pivoted on the support and adapted to overlie the drumadjacent the edges thereof, the bead strip guidesk being adjustabletoward and from each other.

l2. Apparatus for building tires in the y form of flat band comprising arotatable drum` a support for holding a strip of tire building materialin alignment with the upper periphery of the drum, means adjustable overthe support for guiding the strip of tire building material centrallyonto the drum, and bead strip guides pivoted on the support and adaptedto .overlie the drum adjacent the edges thereof.

lf3. Apparatus for building tires in the form of a flat band comprisinga rotatable drum` a support for holding a strip-of tire buildingmaterial in alignmentvwith the upper periphery of thedrum, and meansadjust-able Iover the support for guiding the strip of tire buildingmaterial centrally onto the drum, said means comprising spaced otherover the support;

14. Apparatus for building tires in the forni of ,a fiat band comprisinga rotatable drum, a support for holding a strip ot tire buildingmaterial in alignment with the upper periphery of the drum, and meansadjus-table over the support for guiding the strip of tire buildingmaterial centrally onto the drum.

15. Apparatus for building tires in the form of a flat band comprising arotatable drum, means for guiding strips of bead Inatcrial onto the.upper periphery of the drum, and means for stitching about the beadstrips at-the upper periphery oi the drum, said means including astitcher unit pivoted to swing onto the upper periphery of th'e drum and.including sets or rollers so sluiped.A and arranged as to stitchagainst the u'pper'sur Vl i) faces uf each bead strip and againstadjacent portions of a tire' carcass on said drum.

18. Apparatus for building tires in the form of a lat hand comprising arotatable drum. means for guidingy strips of bead'ma'- I terial onto theupper periphery of the drum,

and means for stitching about the bead strips at the upper periphery ofthe drumsaid means including a 'stitcher unit pivoted to swing' onto theupper peripheryl of the drum. 17. Apparatus for building tires in theform of a fla-t band comprising a rotatable drum, means for guidingplies of tire building material onto the upper peripher of the drum,meansfor guiding strips of ead material onto the upper periphery of thedrum, and means lfor stitchin about the bead strlps ,at the upper peripiery of the drum'-, Said means including a stitcher unit pivoted toswing onto ,the UPDcr periphery` .ing material onto the upper'peripheryof thedrum-means for guiding strips of bead ma terial onto the upperperi hery of the drum, and means for stitching a ut the bead strips atthe upper periphe of the drum, said means including a stitc 1erunitmovable onto the upper periphery of the drum.

WILLIAM o. STEVENS.

